Language is a gift of God to man

Babel and Pentecost. The Bible registers two incidents regarding the language of man. One in the Old Testament and the other in the New Testament. The first one is known as, “The Tower of Babylon,” and the other “The Descent of the Holy Spirit.”

As a means of communication, language becomes the servant of the thought of man, and as such is the gift of God to man. Why do we say the “gift of God?” Because the giver who gives to man, as we can see from the first Bible story of Adam and Eve, is in a position to also take it away from man.

We read in the Bible about the building called the Tower of Babylon. We are told that God mixed the Babylonians language so that they couldn’t understand each other. For instance, as the builders began their work on the building site they failed to understand each other. They talked but their words did not make sense, and the more they talked the less they understood each other. All action and toil failed to come to fruition. Talk without sense is empty talk, as we can see in our time.

On the other hand, we see a full renewal as we read the comparable story in the New Testament about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant churches will celebrate Pentecost on Sunday.

“Suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and filled all the house. And there appeared tongues as of fire, resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ...” This happened on the day of the harvest feast celebrated in Jerusalem. Merchants came from the North and South; Arabia and Ethiopia, from Tyre and Sidon. The Bible says, “And they were bewildered, because each of them heard them speaking in his own language.”

What is the reason that God acts differently in two situations? In the case of Babylon, man is being punished while in Jerusalem, man is given special gifts. In both cases, the power comes from the same source — God. In both instances, we see man with his limitations. Perhaps the difference is to be looked for and found in the attitudes of the two.

In the case of Babylon, man made a futile attempt to cover his weakness and inability with his power and pride, and so became a captive of his shortcomings that resulted in self-defeat, nonsense and emptiness. Because man aimed o build the monument to himself and his pride, it resulted in confusion and defeat. It was so that the word Babel in Aramaic and Semitic languages became synonymous with the meaning of nonsense and emptiness.

The Bible records this incident, “...And each one said to his neighbor: Come, let us make brick... Come, let us make a city and tower, the top whereof may reach the heaven: and let us make our names famous... And the Lord came and said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue ... let us go down and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one other’s speech (Genesis 11:3-7).

In the case of Pentecost we read,”... and they began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak... and when this sound was heard, the multitude gathered and were bewildered in mind, because each heard them speaking in his own language” (Acts: 2:3-7).

As it was then, so it is today, for we are informed that the Holy Spirit moves where He wills, and we add to it, moves with the same purpose to give us life. That life is the knowledge of One God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

So, today we are in a position to look at both occurrences and compare our times, conditions and attitudes with those of Babel and Pentecost. We find them both in existence. As in Babel, we hear language so confusing that it is almost impossible to understand what is going on.

In today’s society, the word sin is considered to be a remnant of the dark ages. Words such as democracy, diplomacy and truth may have different meanings to people who come from different experiences.

Changes in values are constantly in progress to suit the man who rejects any kind of discipline. People hardly understand each other. This is how modern Babel looks.

Even with all of this, the Holy Spirit is present and with us only if we are sincere enough with ourselves and desirous of His presence. After all, He is the only one who makes sense and who is the reality in a “babel” of nonsense.

How appropriate then is the following prayer said at the beginning of Orthodox Divine Liturgy: “Heavenly King and comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

The Rev. Daniel Rohan is pastor of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Liberty.